ELR-News

May 2007

Newsletter of ELR Software Pty Ltd

ABN 67 090 738 702
http://www.elr.com.au
news@elr.com.au

ELR Software produces a range of computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.

The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources), Rude Readers, Word Meanings and EIA (Enhancing Internet Access). We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.

This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).

In this issue -

  1. New eLr Materials
  2. eLr Workshops in Canada and the UK
  3. Other Independent Developers
  4. Free Downloads
  5. ELR 2007 Calendar

  1. New eLr Materials

    A total of 117 new tasks have been added to "Reading and Spelling - Long Vowel Sounds" and "Diphthong Vowel Sounds". The models used include LookThenCover, WordSearch, SmileyMan and ConnectWords. These models provide a good range of activities for each set of words and work in a complementary way to reinforce both decoding and spelling skills. LookThenCover is a good activity to introduce the word sets. The student looks at the word, covers it, and then either writes it, and/or types it using the onscreen alphabet buttons or the regular keyboard. Following this, the WordSearch model is fun, and reinforces decoding skills. These WordSearch games can also be printed and completed as a paper based activity. SmileyMan is a hangman type game, and encourages the student to recall the words, and also spell them using the onscreen alphabet buttons. Teachers have reported that this on screen alphabet is very useful in reinforcing knowledge of alphabetical order. ConnectWords is a game, based on Connect 4. For any of the activities, the "?" at the top right corner of the screen provides instructions on use, and suggestions of ways to expand the activity.

    The tasks this month are a continuation of the major review that was done in January. In this review we adjusted the Directory to make it easier to find words that contained each of the vowel sounds as well as the different spelling options for each vowel sound. We did a lot of research to identify words containing the different vowel sounds, and have organised the words into 3 levels of difficulty. Level 1 words have sound letter correspondence (apart from the spelling of the vowel sound). This means that as the student sounds out the word, each sound is represented by a letter. Level 2 has words that don't have sound letter correspondence, so the words will contain consonant digraphs, such as "ph", "ck", "th" etc. Level 3 words are multisyllabic. This makes it easier to have students achieve error free learning at their appropriate level. By assessing their phonological awareness, you are then able to teach word patterns, based on their mastery of sound letter relationships.

    We welcome your feedback about this section and any other eLr section. Over the next few months, the vowel sections of "Reading and Spelling" will continue to be expanded.

  2. eLr Workshops in Canada and the UK

    During April we will be in Canada - enjoying an early northern hemisphere spring! We will be visiting Saskatchewan, so I'm sure we will also see our fair share of snow. We will also be in Toronto, Ottawa, and finally at the Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologist Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick (25th-27th April).

    In May we will be in the UK, and have about 9 workshops organised between 1st and the 18th May. See below for more details about these workshops, and please feel free to email if you would like more information.

  3. Other Independent Developers

    As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -

    If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.

  4. Free Downloads

    ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.


     
  5. ELR 2007 Calendar



Subscribing/Unsubscribing to this Newsletter

You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au

Copyright ©2007 ELR Software Pty Ltd

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